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BATTLE // January 28, 1881

Battle of Laing's Nek

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Overview

The Battle of Laing's Nek was a major battle fought at Laing's Nek during the First Boer War on 28 January 1881.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Laing's Nek was fought on 28 January 1881 during the First Boer War, pitting a British force of 1,216 under Maj Gen. Sir George Pomeroy Colley against approximately 2,000 men of the South African Republic commanded by Piet Joubert. British casualties reached 113. The engagement was one of the major actions of the conflict, and the scale of British losses relative to the size of the force committed reflected the difficulties Colley faced against the Boer position at Laing's Nek. The battle was part of the broader British effort to reassert control over the South African Republic following its declaration of independence, a campaign that would ultimately fail to restore British authority before the war's conclusion.

Forces & casualties

Troop strength

  • South African Republic2,000
    medium
  • United Kingdom1,216
    medium

South African Republic fielded a 1.6 : 1 numerical advantage

Casualties

  • Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande113
    medium

Commanders (2)

South African Republic

United Kingdom

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Related

5 sibling battles · 2 factions

Last verified June 2026
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